Apparatus for preparing type-bars or slugs for use in printing-forms.



D. S. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR PREPARING IYPE BARS 0R SLUGS FOR USE INPRINTING FORMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 2|, I916- Parented Apr. 15,-1919. 3 SHEETS-SHEETI.

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D. S. KENNEDY.

' APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TYPE BARS 0R SLUGS FOR USE IN PRINTING FORMS.

APPLICATION HLED NOV.2l. l9l6.

1,300,846,, Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- R "(Q Q I Q W R N Q 5 R .95 U} 1 141m) r N INI IiWITNESSES I j/VVE/V TOR.

DMS. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TYPE BARS 0R SLUGS FORUSE INPRINTING FORMS.

. APPLICATION FILED. NOV. 21.19;- 1,300,846.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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30 i the use of supporting blocks is undesirable,

I DAVID S. KENNEDY, F BBDOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MERGENTHALERLINOTYPEICOMPANY;-A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR PREPARI ENG TYPE-3AM OR SLUGS FOR USE IN PRINTING-FORMS.

Original application filed July 2, 1915,

To all whom it may concern.

. Be it known that I, DAVID S. KENNEDY, a

for preparing type bars or slugs, such as are cast in the commerciallinotype machine,

for use in printing forms.

Certain classes of work, such as advertising, illustrative matter andthe like, require the use of cuts or printing plates in the form,

and to meet this requirement, the plain portions of the slugs lyingbeyond their type characters are usuallyycut off to provide an openspace-in the form for the-reception of a supporting block uponwhich thecut is mounted. This-practice is objectionable, as

'it not only involves a number of different operations which entail muchlabor and'loss of time, but in addition difliculty is experienced inlooking up the form in the proper and exact manner required.Furthermore,

since they must be specially prepared to correspond to the particularstyle of plates to be inserted, and they can rarely be used after oneservice.

My invention is intended to overcome the above objections and aims toprepare the slugs so that they themselves may receive the printing plateand give it direct support. To this end, I propose to cut down or reducethe plain portions of the slugs so that the plate or cut may be placedthereon and supported at type height.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my mproved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cutter employed therein Y Fig. 3'isatop plan view of a port on of the apparatus, showmg a series of slugs-1n position to be acted upon by the cutter;

Fig. his a similar now showing the slugs after they have been reduced bythe cutter 7 and with a printing plate in place thereon;

Specification of Letters Patent.

rotary Patented Apr. 15,1919.

Serial No. 37,664. Divided and this application filed November 21,-

Serial No. 132,541.

Fig. 5 is ,a section on the line 5.-5 of F1g. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a section -on the line 6+6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a portion of the I apparatus, showing theslugs immediately after they have passed the cutter;

51g. 8 illustrates one of the finished slugs; an

Fig. 9 is a view of a different form of slug.

In the use ofmy improved apparatus, I preferably follow the method ofprocedure outllned in my earlier application before re ferred to. castslugs side by side upon a suitable sup- That is to say I assemble theport, then shift them endwise relatively to each other to bring the endsof their lines of type characters into transverse alinement, andthereafter cut down or reduce progressively or suces'sively the plainedge portions of the slugs beyond the type characters. The slugs aresubsequently locked up in the printing form,-and in the condi tion theirreduced portions will present a flat surface upon which the cut may belaid and supported at type height. The feature of preliminarily bringingthe ends of the type lines into transverse alinement is particularlyadvantageous in facilitating the trimming of the slugs for the receptionof cuts of irregular form or contour, it being understood that the slugswhich are produced for use in connection with such cuts have their typelines of varying predetermined lengths to correspond. A whole series ofsuch slugs may thus be trimmed at one operation, since the relativeshifting of the slugs necessary to bring their type lines intotransverse alinement will also locate their plain portions, whichlikewise vary in extent, 'in proper position for the trimming action.

This feature might also be advantageously slug is provided with a lineof type characters Z. extending partly along its edge,

and with a recess Z extending along the re-.

dotted lines. When a number of such slugs are assembled side by side inthe form, as in the manner indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, they provide aplain and fiat supporting surface corresponding in form to that of theprint ing plate to be mounted thereon, it being remembered that when theplate is of irregular form the recessesztwill vary in length on therespective slugs so as to adapt the outline of the supporting surface tocor respond.

While my improved apparatus is particularly ada ted to carry out themethod above noted an will hereafter be described with reference to suchmethod, I wish it to be distinctly understood that my inventioncontemplates any method that may be followed in the use and manipulationof ratus now to be described.

As shown in Fig. 1, the slugs Z, just as they are cast in the linotypemachine, are

assembled side by side with their bottom edges resting upon asupporting" table B, which is arranged to slide horizontally in a flatbed plate A supported in the framework A. The table B is provided withside and end flanges B which may be availed of to even up the slugs andto maintain them in proper position.

When thus assembled, the slugs are shifted? longitudinally to bring theends of their type lines Z up against a straight transverse bar or gageD, which is pivotally mounted upon a pin D supported in the bracketplate D fixed to the sliding table B. The bar Dthus positively andsimultaneously efi'ects'the proper transverse a-linement of the typelines at their ends, it being noted that said type lines are carried byraised surfaces Z which engage the bar. This alining action locates theplain edge portions Z of the slugs beyond the bar and s in the ropercondition for the trimming action, it being (ibserved that, in thepresent instance, the slugs are of the same length but have type linesof different lengths and that consequently the plain portions areprojected different distances beyond the alining bar, due to therelative shifting of the slugs, as shown in Fig. 3. In this way, all theslugsare disposed so as to be trimmed at one operation andnotwithstanding the fact that their plain portions vary in length asjust stated. When the slugs are thus disposed, they are pressed tightlytogether and held up against the end flange B of the table by a clampingjaw B carried thereby and operated by the usual devices B In pergforming the trimming operation,

the appathe table B is moved along the bed plate A so as to carry theslugs sidewise as a whole past an overlying rotary cutter C, providedwith peripheral and face cutting teeth 0 and C, respectively, and whichthereby trims down or reduces the plain portions Z of said slugsprogressively or successively, thus forming therein the recessesZ forthe insertion of the printing plate or cut Y, as before described. Fig.6 shows the slugs as they are about to pass beneath the cutter C andFig. 7 shows them after they have passed thereby. The cutter is attachedto the lower end of a vertical shaft C (see Fig. I

2) rotatably mounted in a sleeve G which is supported between bearingplates A fixed to the free endof a bracket A rising from the framework Aand spanning the bed-plate A as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft C may bedriven in any suitable manner; in the present instance, it is providedat its upper end with a pulley 0 connected by,

a belt (3 to a second pulley C fixed to the upper end of a driving shaftC receiving motion from some sultable source.

After the slugs have ben trimmed in the manner just described, they arereleased from the action of the clamping jaw B and shifted, if need be,so as to bring the ends of their body portions into transversealinement,in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. When in this position the recesses Zwill be arranged so as to provide a flat supporting surface on the slugscorresponding in outline to the form or contour of the printing plate orcut and upon which it may be sustained at type height. It' is notessential that the alinement of the slugs by their body recelve andsupport the plate or cut to be inserted. I

As shown inthe drawings, the position of the alining bar D is such as tobring the ends of the type lines close up to the cutter C, so that therecesses Z of the slugs will allow the plate inserted thereon to standimmediately adjacent to the ends of the type lines. However, in someinstances it may be desired to locate the plate away from the ends ofthe type lines, in which event the recesses Z should be cut acorresponding distance therefrom. For this and other reasons, thealining bar D is laterally adjustable upon the supporting pin D so thatit can be set at different distances from the cutter C, a screw D beingemployed to hold the bar in its adjustable position. In this way, whenthe slugs are shifted longitudinally to bring the ends of the type linesup mounted, is adjustable vertically so as tolocate the cutter at ahigher or lower level as required. This adjustment of the sleeve C iseffected by means of a surrounding thumb-nut C connected thereto bymeans of screw threads. The nut is confined against endwise movement bymeans of a clip C secured to the bracket arm A and fitting in an annulargroove in the nut, so that by rotating the latter, the sleeve C willvbe-raised or lowered to the proper extent.

In order to indicate the extent of the adjustment, the nut is providedwith a dial plate C coiiperating with a pointer C fixed to the bracketA.

As an alternative construction, the table B wherein the slugs are heldmay be adjusted toward and from the cutter C. Thus in Fig. 1 the bedplate A is shown as mounted to-slide vertically in the framework A, itsadjustment being effected by an operating handle A connectedto one endof a shaft A mounted in bearings of the bed plate and geared to avertical shaiftA also mounted in fixed bearings of the bed plate andscrew-threaded into the framework. The extent of adjustment is indicatedbya dial plate A secured to the shaft A and cooperating with arelatively fixed pointer A.

In Fig. 9 the slug Z is shown as having the shoulder at the end of therecess Z undercut, as at Z, so as to receive the beveled edge of aprinting plate Y When a series of such slugs are assembled in the form,their undercut walls Z will overhang one edge of the printing plate andthus serve to hold it down in place upon the slugs.

While myinvention is intended primarily to adapt the slugs for receivingand supporting a cut or printing plate, it should be understood thatother uses may be made of it which will still be comprised within itsspirit. It will frequently be desirable to reploying the precise form ofmechanism shown except as limited by the appended claims. Many changesand variations therein will readily suggest themselves to those skilledin the art without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows:

1. In an apparatus for trimming slugs for the reception of cuts orprinting plates, the combination of means for holding a series of slugsside by side, means independ- 90 ent of the cut or printing platewhereby the 7 ends of their type lines may be simultane ously broughtinto transverse alinement, and means for reducing or recessing-the plainedge portions of the slugs beyond the type, lines.

2. In an apparatus for trimming slugs for the reception of cuts orprinting plates, the combination of means for holding a series of slugsside by side, means independent of the cut or printing plate wherebytheends of their type lines maybe simultaneously brought into transversealinement,- and means for trimming the plain portions of the slugsbeyond the type lines.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forholding a series of slugs with their edges exposed, and a cutting tooladapted to reduce or recess the exposed edges of the slugs, one of saidparts being movable relatively to the other in such direction as tosubject the slugs successively to the action of the cutting tool.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of meansforholding. the slugs side by side, means whereby the ends of their typelines may be simultaneously brought into transverse alinement to exposethe plain edge portions beyond the type lines, a cutting tool adapted toreduce or 12.0 recess the ex osed edge portions of the slugs, and meansor adjusting the slug holding. means and the cutting tool one toward andfrom the otherto vary the extent of the verse alinement of said typelines, and a cutting tool adapted to act upon theplain portions of theslugs beyond the alining bar or '3, 8. I

a In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cuttingtool, a supporting table for holding a series of slugs side by side andmovable transversely past the tool to subject the slugs to the cuttingaction thereof, and a transverse bar or gage to engage the ends of thetype lines on the slugs and, positively efi'ect the transverse alinementof said type lines preparatory to the cutting action 7. In an apparatusof the class described, the combination ofa cutting tool, a supportingtable whereon the slugs are adapted to be arranged side by side andmovable transversely past the tool to subject the slugs to the cuttingaction thereof, and a transverse bar or gage against which the ends ofthe type lines of the slugs may be positively and simultaneously alinedpreparatory to the cutting action, the said bar being adjustable todifferent operative positions to expose a greater or less portion of theslugs to the action of the cutting tool.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupporting table for holding a series of slugs side by side, atransverse bar or gage to engage the ends of the type lines on the slugsand positively effect the transverse alinement of said type lines, and acutting tool past which the slugs are moved by the table and which isadapted to cut down or reduce the plain edges of the slugs beyond thealining bar or gage.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forholding a series of slugs side by side, means to engage the ends of thetype lines on the slugs and positively efi'ect the transverse alinementof said type lines, and means for reducing or recessing the plain edgeportions of the slugs beyond the type lines.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forholding a series of slugs side by side, means to engage the ends of thetype lines on the slugs and positively efi'ect the transverse alinementof said type lines, and means for trimming the plain edge portions ofthe slugs beyond the type lines.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forholding a series of slugs side by side, means to engage the ends of thetype lines on the slugs and i ms positively effect the transversealinement of said type lines, and a cutting tool adapted to reduce orrecess the plain edge portions of the slugs beyond the type lines, thesaid cutting tool and the slug holding means being movable onerelatively to the other in such direction as to subject the slugssuccessively to the action of the cutting tool.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupporting table for holding a. series of slugs side by side with theiredges exposed, and a cutting tool mounted to rotate in fixed bearingsand adapted to reduce or recess the exposed edges of the slugs, the saidtable being slidable in a direction at right angles to the length of theslugs to carry them sidewise past and present them successively to thecutting tool.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cuttingtool mounted to rotate in fixed bearings, a supporting. table whereonthe slugs are adapted to be arranged side by side, and means to engagethe ends of the type lines on the slugs and positively effect theirtransverse alinement preparatory to the cutting action, the saidsupporting table being slidable in a direction at right angles to thelength of the slugs to carry them sidewise past and present themsuccessively to the cutting tool. 1

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cuttingtool, a sup orting table for holding a series of slugs si e by side andslidable in 'a direction at right angles to the length of the slugs tocarry them sidewise past and present them successively to the cuttingtool, and the said table being constructed to permit the longitudinalShifting of the Slugs thereon into the field of action of the cuttingtool, and a straight bar or gage arranged to engage the ends-of the typelines on the slugs when they are shifted longitudinally, and serving bysuch engagement positively to efiect the transverse alinement of thetype lines and to insure their location beyond the field ofaction of thecutting tool.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forholding a signature. 1 DAVID S.

series of slugs side by side, a cutting tool

